Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Popular Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

tetchiness

 - 3 dictionary results

tetch⋅y

  [tech-ee]
Use tetchiness in a Sentence
–adjective tetch⋅i⋅er, tetch⋅i⋅est.
irritable; touchy.
Also, techy.

Origin:
1585–95; orig. uncert.; cf. tetched, -y 1

Related forms:
tetch⋅i⋅ly, adverb
tetch⋅i⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To tetchiness
tetch·y also tech·y   (těch'ē)   
adj.   tetch·i·er also tech·i·er, tetch·i·est also tech·i·est
Peevish; testy: "As a critic gets older, he or she usually grows more tetchy and limited in responses" (James Wolcott).

[Probably from Middle English tache, teche, blemish (influenced by touchy), from Old French tache, teche, from Vulgar Latin *tacca, from Gothic taikns, sign; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]
tetch'i·ly adv., tetch'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

tetchy 
"easily irritated," 1592, teachie, in "Romeo & Juliet" I.iii.32; of uncertain origin. Perhaps from M.E. tatch "a mark, quality," derived via O.Fr. from V.L. *tecca, from a Gmc. source akin to O.E. tacen (see token).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see tetchiness on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way